Jewish Old Ground

We've been given a fantastic opportunity to complete a significant project for the Jewish Cemetery Trust...  including a wide range of maintenance and repair jobs.  At the moment, we are concentrating on completing the maintenance work as we await our approval of our application for a Standard Exemption from the Heritage Branch.

We are following stringent specifications for good practice maintenance and repair work...  using training lime mortars, poulticing, and a variety of conservation techniques emerging from the National Trust (NSW) Guidelines for Cemetery Conservation, ongoing discussions with the Heritage Branch, as well as technical expertise and training from Scotland, Denmark, Canada, etc...  as well as guidance from the Burra Charter and ICOMOS (the International Council of Monuments and Sites).

The project is a great one...  and should integrate well with the Jewish Cemetery Trust's plans for comprehensive repair works...  possibly as well as a National Trust appeal on behalf of the trust for tax-deductable donations to fund the conservation work.

Best of all, it's an opportunity to jump-start the sharing of experience & specifications that I've been meaning to try to get online and out for comment.  The commitment of the Jewish Cemetery Trust, including the Chairman Jack Fisher, the trustee most dedicated to the Old Ground and heritage issues Gary Luke, and the actual staff on the grounds (is going to help drive the project...  I've promised to do a good job of reporting to them...  which should mean that I'll be able to do a good job of sharing our progress and starting a discussion with all of you).